Sport

Great catch scuppers all-Keighley final

OAKWORTH have avenged last year’s Wynn Cup final defeat at the hands of Haworth Road.

They beat the holders at Cure Hill by seven wickets in the semi-finals.

Going first, the Baildon Bottom side were indebted to Robert Greenwood, who made 82 of their 158, while Mick Taylor chipped in with 28 as Adam Smith had a super spell of 6-19 off 11.1 overs.

The home side lost a couple of early wickets before Brannan Lawn (41) and Michael Scarborough steadied the ship.

The latter was joined by Paul Spragg and the pair cruised to their target, Spragg finishing on 67 not out and Scarborough 37 not out.

Oakworth will have home advantage in the final at Cure Hill on Sunday, August 3 against Thornton-in-Craven, who beat Ingrow St John’s.

The hosts, who have found good form of late, rattled up 196 in 44.3 overs, Scott Haworth-Hines (78) and skipper Dave Scothern (31) being the main contributors as Nadeem Safdar took 3-50 and Wasim Hussain 3-61. Deepal Dissanayake made 86 and looked to be carrying Saints to a comfortable victory. However, he went at 144 and it was game on.

The score crept towards the target and, at 193-8, Nadeem Zaman was lbw hitting across the line.

Then Ali Khalid, who had already hit two massive sixes, smashed the first ball of the last over towards the boundary.

The shot looked as though it had the legs to go all the way. However, dashing round the edge was Jack Laycock, who took a great catch to win the game and deny Saints their first final appearance.